Coin packaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

A coin packaging apparatus is disclosed which is of the type comprising a stacking cylinder for arranging each predetermined number of coins of the same diameter into a neat stack, and a plurality of wrapping rolls arranged annularly below the stacking cylinder in parallel spaced relationship to each other for receiving the stack of coins therebetween and for winding a strip of wrapper around its circumference as the coin stack is caused frictionally to be rotated by the wrapping rolls. A guide tube for carrying each stack of coins from the stacking cylinder down to the wrapping rolls is axially aligned with the stacking cylinder and further with the central position between the wrapping rolls in order to facilitate the packaging operation of various denominations of coins.

United States Patent Ushio Dec. 16, 1975 1 COIN PACKAGING APPARATUS 312121 17 7/1974 Hatanaka 53/212 x 75 l t M 2, 1 men or asatoshl Ushlo Hlmell Jdp m Primary E.\aminerTravis S. McGehee [73] Assignee: Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Assistant E.\'uminerlohn Sipos Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firn1Wendcroth, Lind & Ponack 22 Filed: 14, 1974 l 1 Jan [57 ABSTRACT [2H Appl N04 432,890 A coin packaging apparatus is disclosed, which is of I the type comprising a stacking cylinder for arranging [30] F i Appncation priority Data each predetermined nupiberdof cclainslof thfe same di- J, 4 12 1973 J, z H ametcr into a neat stac an a p ura ity o wrapping 48 6401 rolls arranged annularly below the stacking cylinder in [52] Cl. 53/212 parallel spaced relationship to each other for receiving [51] Int (12 i i l 11/04 the stack of coins therebctween and for winding a [58] Field of 133/1 A strip of wrapper around its circumference the coin stack is caused frictionally to be rotated by the wrap- [56] References cued ping rolls. A guide tube for carrying each stack of coins from the stacking cylinder down to the wrapping UNITED STATES PATENTS rolls is axially aligned with the stacking cylinder and 7511246 2/1904 Bmdorf 53/212 X further with the central position between the wrapping fmwcs r 1 3333: rolls in order to facilitate thepackaging operation of or Cl'lSCl'l I 3,775,940 l2/l973 Hat anaka 53/212 Vdnous denommdnons of coms. 3.798373 3/1974 Frahm 53/212 1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet 1 of7 3,925,966

FiG.

US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet20f7 3,925,966

FIG.2

U.S. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet30f7 3,925,966

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet4 0f7 3,925,966

FIG.4

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet50f7 3,925,966

US. Patent Dec". 16, 1975 Sheet 6 of7 3,925,966

FIG.8

FIG.9

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet70f7 3,925,966

COIN PACKAGING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to coin handling or processing apparatus and particularly to coin packaging apparatus. More specifically, the invention is directed to improvements in a coin packaging apparatus of the type comprising a stacking cylinder for arranging each predetermined number of coins of the same diameter or denomination into a neat stack, and a plurality of rotatable wrapping rolls arranged annularly in parallel spaced relationship to each other. Each time the stack of coins is carried by a guide tube to a specified position between the wrapping rolls, these rolls are displaced sideways into circumferential contact with the stack of coins and are then set in rotation therewith to wind a strip of wrapper around its circumference. The lateral edges of the thus wound wrapper strip, still projecting beyond the ends of the stack of coins, are fold crimped as by a pair of crimping hooks for complete packaging of the coins.

According to the prior art coin packaging apparatus of the type described, the wrapping rolls are normally held in their predetermined most spaced-apart positions as a stack of coins of any desired denomination is carried down to the specified position therebetween by the guide tube. All but one of the wrapping rolls are then displaced horizontally toward the one stationary wrapping roll, thereby tightly holding the stack of coins therebetween. It will accordingly be apparent that the axis of the vertically movable guide rod is not necessarily aligned with the axis of each stack of coins carried thereby, especially when the apparatus is required to handle coins of considerably different diameters. As a consequence, the prior art coin packaging apparatus has an inherent disadvantage in that the stack of coins may become disarranged in its position between the wrapping rolls before the displaceable wrapping rolls are moved into proper circumferential contact therewith from their most spaced-apart positions.

Furthermore, while the stacking cylinder in which coins to be packaged are stacked up can be so arranged so as to be held axially aligned with the guide tube for each diameter of the coins, the axis of the stacking cylinder is not necessarily aligned with the central position between the wrapping rolls for reasons previously set forth, thereby giving rise to the noted possibility that the stack of coins may become disarranged between the wrapping rolls. In order to eliminate this possibility of coin disarrangement or collapse of the coin stack, one prior art coin packaging apparatus is equipped with a mechanism whereby the guide tube is displaced hori- Zontally so as to support each stack of coins at itx exact axial point. However, an undesirable feature of this mechanism is that the overall coin packaging apparatus is rendered unnecessarily complex and expensive in construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved coin packaging apparatus including a plurality of wrapping rolls which are all movable horizontally to support a stack of coins of any given denomination at the exact central position therebetween, so that a guide tube adapted to carry each stack of coins from a stacking cylinder down to the central position between the wrapping rolls can be held axially aligned therewith regardless of the diameter of the coins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin packaging apparatus wherein the stacking cylinder, the wrapping rolls and the guide tube are arranged in a radially symmetrical manner with respect to the axis extending vertically therethrough, so that the possibility of disarrangement or collapse of each stack of coins supported by the guide tube is minimized.

With these objects in view and the other objects hereinafter set forth, this invention provides, in a coin packaging apparatus of the type referred to, the improve ment including means for simultaneously moving all of the wrapping rolls toward and away from the central axis therebetween over distances predetermined in accordance with the diameter of the coins to be packaged in order to hold each stack of coins in the axial position therebetween, so that the axis of the guide rod in its operative position can always be held in alignment with the central axis between the wrapping rolls regardless of the diameter of the coins being handled. Further, according to the invention, the inside diameter of the stacking cylinder can be adjusted to the diameter of each predetermined number of coins to be stacked therein, in such a manner that the axis of the stacking cylinder is held in alignment with the central axis between the wrapping rolls and hence with the axis of the guide tube in its operative position.

The features which are believed to be novel and characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of an example of a coin packaging machine to which this invention is directed, the casing of the machine being shown partly broken away to illustrate the inner details;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating some essential components in the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a mechanism employable for simultaneously moving all of wrapping rolls toward and away from the central position therebetween;

FIG. 4 is a relatively enlarged top plan view of a cam mechanism incorporated in the mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic top plan views explanatory of the motion of the wrapping rolls in response to the operation of the cam mechanism shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top plan view of a mechanism employable for controllably adjusting the inside diameter of a stacking cylinder to the diameter of each kind of coins to be stacked therein in such a manner that the position of the central axis of the stack is held unchanged;

FIG. 8 is a schematic top plan view showing an alternative arrangement of the mechanism of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is also a schematic top plan view showing a further alternative arrangement of the mechanism of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is considered essential that the general organization of a typical coin wrapping machine to which this invention is directed be first briefly set forth, to clarify the features and advantages of the invention. Referring therefore to FIG. 1, the illustrated coin packaging apparatus 1 broadly comprises a coin charging section 2 through which coins to be packaged in neat stacks are introduced into the apparatus, a coin stacking section 3 where each batch of a prescribed number of the coins is stacked, a coin wrapping section 4 where each stack of the coins is packaged with a wrapper, a coin guide mechanism 5 for directing each stack of the coins from the coin stacking section 3 to the coin wrapping section 4, a wrapper supplying section 6 for supplying the wrapper to the coin wrapping section 4, and a control section 7 for controlling the operation of the coin wrapping section 4.

More specifically, the aforesaid coin charging section 2 includes a hopper 10 through which the coins to be packaged are loaded onto a rotary disc 12. As this disc 12 rotates at a suitable speed, the coins are successively centrifugally sent out into a linear passageway 11, FIG. 2, extending radially outwardly therefrom, along which passageway the successive coins are frictionally caused to advance by means of an endless belt 13. Also as indicated in FIG. 2, the passageway 11 is provided with means 14 for sorting out those coins whose diameters are smaller than that of the coins of a specific denomination to be packaged. Counting means including a toothed sprocket 15 is further provided at the exit end of the passageway 11, the toothed sprocket 15 being caused to rotate through a predetermined angle by each coin of the proper denomination traveling therepast. Each time a predetermined number of coins are thus fed out of the exit end of the passageway 11, the toothed wheel 15 is temporarily rendered nonrotatable to prevent any further coins from being fed out of the passageway.

Each batch of a predetermined number of coins thus delivered out of the passageway 11 is directed through a chute 16 into a stacking cylinder 17 of the coin stack ing section 3, which further comprises means 18 for imparting vibrations to the stacking cylinder 17 to cause the same to rearrange the coins contained therein into a neat stack, and shutter means 19 for opening and closing the bottom end of the stacking cylinder 17.

The coin wrapping section 4 comprises a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 disposed vertically in parallel spaced and annular configuration, and a pair of fold crimping hooks 23 and 24. Each stack of coins delivered from the coin stacking section 3 in a manner hereinafter set forth is placed vertically between these wrapping rolls- 20, 21, and 22, whereupon the wrapping rolls are displaced horizontally toward the stack of coins to hold the same tightly therebetween. The stack of coins is then caused frictionally to rotate on its axis by the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22, and a strip of wrapper 25 is wound around the circumferential surface of the rotating stack of coins.

As will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the aforesaid coin guide mechanism 5 includes a guide tube 28 having a flanged top 27, which guide tube is movable up and down for guiding each stack of coins from within the stacking cylinder 17 down to a predetermined position between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 each time the bottom end of the stacking cylinder is opened by the action of a pair of arms 26 of the shutter means 19. A support rod 29 telescopically received in the guide tube 28 is also movable up and down relative to the same and is adapted to directly support the stack of coins between the wrapping rolls 20 to 22 as the strip of wrapper 25 is wound around the rotating coins. As the stack of coins is completely packaged, the guide tube 28 as well as the support rod 29 is caused to move hori zontally from under the wrapping rolls 20 to 22 to an inoperative position, thereby permitting the package of coins to be dropped by gravity into a chute 8 for dispensation out of the machine.

The wrapper supplying section 6 comprises holding means 30 for holding a roll of the strip of wrapper 25, feed roll means 33 consisting of drive roll 31 and idler roll 32 which cooperate to feed out the strip of wrapper 25 toward the coin wrapping section 4, and cutter means 34 for cutting the strip of wrapper 25 into a length sufficient to package the stack of coins held between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22.

The general organization of the example coin packaging machine as so far described is well known and does not, by itself, constitute a part of this invention. According to the novel concepts of the invention, the central axis between the annularly arranged wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 must be vertically aligned with the axis of the guide tube 28 in its operative position and further with the axis of the stacking cylinder 17, as in dicated in FIG. 2. It is to be understood that the term operative position of the guide tube 28 means that position taken by the guide tube when a stack of coins is supported on its flanged top 27 or on the support rod 29 telescopically received in its axial bore, as contrasted with the aforementioned inoperative position of the guide tube 28 to which it is caused to move horizontally from under the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 upon completion of the packaging operation of each stack of coins between the wrapping rolls.

Thus, according to the novel arrangement of the invention, each batch of a predetermined number of coins stacked in stacking cylinder 17 is carried down therefrom to the exact central position between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 by the guide tube 28, so that all of these wrapping rolls must be simultaneously moved equal distances into and out of circumferential contact with the stack ofcoins for proper packaging operation. This objective can be accomplished as described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 3, in which, with a view to better illustration of the invention, bores formed in some parts are hatched, and those formed in other parts unhatched, in order to indicate the fact that the parts having hatched bores are to be fixedly mounted on shafts or rods received in such bores, and the parts having unhatched bores are to be rotatably or loosely mounted on shafts or rods received in such bores.

A knob 35 to be turned to a specified angular position in accordance with the denomination of the desired coins to be packaged is coupled to a shaft 36 either directly or via rotary switch, motor, cam mechanism, or like means not shown in the drawing. A gear 37 fixedly mounted on the shaft 36 is in mesh with a gear 39 on a shaft 38, on which latter shaft is further securely mounted a cam 40 adapted to determine the distances the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 are to be moved toward the central axis therebetween in accordance with the diameter of the coins to be packaged.

As illustrated in more detail in FIG. 4, the cam 40 has a stepped configuration on its circumferences according to the diameters of coins of various denominations to be handled by the apparatus. Further fixedly mounted on the shaft 38 are arms 41 and 42 and a sector gear 43, and a shaft 44 loosely extending approximately centrally through the arm 41 rotatably supports a lever 45 thereabove at a point intermediate both ends of the lever. This lever 45 carries a roller 46 on one end thereof which is resiliently urged toward the stepped circumference of the cam 40 as by a helical tension spring 47.

As seen in both FIGS. 3 and 4, cams 49 and 50 are fixedly mounted on a shaft 48 which constantly rotates during the operation of the machine, at the rate of one complete revolution for each cycle of coin packaging operation. The cam 49 has on its circumference an arcuate edge 51 of a smaller radius adapted to cause the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 to be located in their least spaced-apart positions with respect to the central axis therebetween and another arcuate edge 52 of a greater radius adapted to cause the wrapping rolls to be located in their intermediate positions, as hereinafter explained in further detail. The other cam 50 has a protuberant circumferential edge 53 adapted to cause the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 to be located in their most spacedapart or standby positions. The cam 49 has its circumference of the above described configuration held in contact with a roller 54 mounted on the other end of the aforesaid lever 45, whereas the cam 50 is to make contact only at its protuberant circumferential edge 53 with a roller 55 mounted on the corresponding end of the arm 41.

The aforesaid sector gear 43 fixedly mounted on the shaft 38 is in mesh with another sector gear 57 similarly fixedly mounted on a shaft 56. Further fixedly mounted on this shaft 56 are arms 58, 59 and 60, and a gear 61 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 56 to convey the rotation of a motor, not shown, to the wrapping roll 20. The arms 58 and 59 are interconnected at their respective intermediate points by a rod 62 extending vertically therebetween, and the wrapping roll is rotatably supported between the free ends of the arms 58 and 59 via shafts 63 and 64 extending axially outwardly from both ends of the wrapping roll. A pinion 65 fixedly mounted on the shaft 64 is in mesh with the gear 61 to impart rotation to the wrapping roll 20.

The arm 42 on the shaft 38 has its free end turnably coupled to one end of a link 66 and also to a spring 67 capable of providing a constant load, and the other end of the link 66 is turnably coupled to one end of an arm 69 the other end of which is secured to a shaft 68. Also fixedly mounted on this shaft 68 are cooperative pair of arms 70 and 71 rotatably supporting the wrapping roll 21 between the free ends thereof via shafts 73 and 74 extending axially outwardly from both ends of the wrapping roll. A gear 72 rotatably mounted on the shaft 68 is in mesh with a pinion 75 on the shaft 74 of the wrapping roll 21 via an intermediate gear 77 rotatably mounted on a shaft 76 extending vertically through arms 70 and 71, so that the wrapping roll 21 is caused to rotate via the intermeshing gears 72, 77 and 75 by the same motor as the wrapping roll 20.

The arm 60 on the shaft 56 has its free end turnably coupled to one end of a link 78, the other end of which is turnably coupled to an arm 80 fixedly mounted on a shaft 79. Further fixedly mounted on this shaft 79 are a cooperative pair of arms 81 and 82, each substantially 6 in the shape of a U, rotatably supporting the wrapping roll 22 between the free ends thereof via shafts 83 and 84 extending axially outwardly from both ends of the wrapping roll.

Described hereinbelow is the operation of the above described means for causing the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 to move simultaneously over equal distances toward and away from the central axis therebetween, in order that the axis of the guide tube 28 in its operative position may always be aligned with the axis of the annualarly aligned wrapping rolls. The knob is first turned to a specified angular position in accordance with the denomination, or diameter, of the coins to be packaged, thereby setting the speed of the motor for driving the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 and the wrapper feed rolls 31 and 32 to a value suitable for handling these coins.

Simultaneously, since the shaft '36 rotates with the turn of the knob 35, the cam is caused to turn to its desired angular position via the intermeshing gears 37 and 39. The roller 55 on the arm 41 is now in contact with the protuberant circumferential edge 53 of the cam 50 and, therefore, the roller 54 on the lever is urged by the spring 47 into contact with the arcuate edge 52 of the cam 49. Hence, the other roller 46 on the lever 45 is now held out of contact with the stepped circumference of the cam 40, so that the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 are still located in their most spacedapart positions regardless of the diameter of the coins to be packaged, as indicated by the solid lines in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Since the shaft 48 is in constant rotation with the cams 49 and during operation of the machine, with the relative angular positions of these cams unchanged, the roller on the arm 41 soon moves out of contact with the protuberant circumferential edge 53 of the cam 50 and thus becomes out of contact with the other circumferential portion of the cam 50 as well, while the roller 54 on the lever 45 is still held in contact with the arcuate edge 52 of the cam 49. It will be seen from FIG. 3 in particular that the lever 45 is now pulled by the helical tension spring 47 in such a manner that the roller 46 thereon comes into contact with the cam 40 at its desired circumferential point. With this swinging motion of the lever 45, the arm 41 is caused to turn with the shaft 38 through an angle which is determined by the angle through which the lever 45 is swung until its roller 46 comes into contact with the circumference of the cam 40.

The arm 42 and the sector gear 43 fixedly mounted on the shaft 38 are thus caused to rotate through the desired angle by the constant load spring 67. This rotation of the arm 42 around the shaft 38 results in the rotation of the shaft 68 through a corresponding angle via the link 66 andthe arm 69, so that the pair of arms and 71 fixedly mounted on this shaft 68 are caused to turn correspondingly, thereby carrying the wrapping roll 21 to an intermediate position on its way toward the central position between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22.

The rotation of the shaft 38 is further transmitted via the intermeshing sector gears 43 and 57 to the shaft 56, with the result that the wrapping roll 20 is caused to move also to an intermediate position on its way toward the central position between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 by the pair of arms 58 and 59 secured to the shaft 56. Furthermore, the rotation of the shaft 56 is transmitted to the shaft 79 via the arm 60, the link 78 and the arm 80, and the pair of arms 81 and 82 secured to this shaft 79 cause the wrapping roll 22 also to move to its intermediate position toward the central position between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22.

It is to be noted that the distances the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 are thus caused to move toward the central position therebetween are determined by the working position of the stepped circumference of the cam 40 with which the roller 46 or the lever 45 comes into contact as previously mentioned. Thus, in the case where the stack of coins A to be packaged is of relatively small diameter as shown in FIG. 5, each of the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 moves a distance d1 to the intermediate position indicated by the chain lines consisting of alternating dashes and two consecutive dots. If the stack of coins A is of relatively large diameter as shown in FIG. 6, on the other hand, each of the wrapping rolls will move a correspondingly smaller distance d2 to the intermediate position also as indicated by the chain lines consisting of alternating dashes and two consecutive dots. This difference between the distances d 1 and d2 arises from the corresponding difference between the working positions of the circumference of the cam 40 relative to the roller 46 on the lever 45 in accordance with the diameter of the coins to be successively packaged.

As all of the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 have thus moved to the optimum intermediate positions depending upon the diameter of the coins to be packaged as aforesaid, the guide tube 28 of the coin guide mechanism 5 described in connection with FIG. 1 is caused to rise, as by means of a cam mounted on the shaft 48, up to a position immediately below the bottom of the stacking cylinder 17 by traveling along the central axis of the annularly arranged wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22, as will be best understood from FIG. 2. As the shutter means 19 successively operates in accordance with the prior art to open the bottom end of the stacking cylinder 17, the coins which have been arranged into a neat stack therein are deposited by gravity on the flanged top 27 of the guide tube 28, which tube is then caused to descend to carry the stack of coins down to the central position between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22.

Since the shaft 48 is in constant rotation with the cams 49 and 50 as previously mentioned, the roller 54 on the lever 45 rises on the arcuate edge 51 of the cam 49 when the stack of coins has been brought down to the central position between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 in the above described manner. Then, as will be seen from the foregoing description, each of the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 is caused to move a predetermined distance 1 toward the central axis therebetween regardless of the diameter of the stack of coins A, as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines in FIGS. 5 and 6, so that the coins are now held securely by the wrapping rolls. Since this motion of the wrapping rolls to their least spaced-apart positions is caused by the cam 49 only, it will be apparent that each wrapping roll moves the predetermined distance I without regard to the diameter of the coins to be packaged.

As the stack of coins A becomes thus held securely between the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 as shown in FIG. 5 or 6, the guide tube 28 of the coin guide mechanism 5 is caused to move sideways to its inoperative position out of alignment with the central axis of the wrapping rolls in accordance with the prior art. The wrapping roll 20 is then set in rotation via the gear 61 and the pinion 65, and the wrapping roll 21 is also simultaneously set in rotation via the gears 72, 77 and 75. The wrapper feed roll means 33 comprising the drive roll 31 and the idler roll 32 also becomes operative as rotation is imparted in a known manner to the drive roll 31. The strip of wrapper 25 with its loose end held between the feed rolls 31 and 32 is thereby frictionally fed toward the wrappping rolls 20, 21, and 22, and, as a result of the tension thus exerted, the strip of wrapper is cut into a suitable length by the cutter means 34. The strip of wrapper thus separated from the rest of its continuous strip then has its leading end caught between one of the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 and the stack of coins and is succeedingly wound around its circumference as the coins are caused to rotate by the wrapping rolls.

Upon complete winding of the wrapper strip around the circumference of the stack of coins, the pair of fold crimping hooks 23 and 24, FIG. 2, approach the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the stack of coins by the section of the cam, not shown, which may be mounted on the shaft 48. The fold crimping hooks 23 and 24 operate to fold crimp the loose lateral edges of the wrapper strip inwardly over both ends of the stack of coins and are thereafter turned horizontally away therefrom by the action of the same cam.

As the packaging of the stack of coins is thus completed, the cams 49 and 50 still rotate with the shaft 48 until the roller 54 on the lever 45 rides again over the arcuate edge 52 of the cam 49, and the roller 55 on the arm 41 over the protuberant circumferential edge 53 of the cam 50. As a consequence, the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 are caused to move back to their most spaced-apart positions by the respective linkage systems previously described, so that the packaged stack of coins is now released and falls by gravity into the chute 8 for dispensation out of the machine. Thus, one complete cycle of coin packaging operation comes to an end as the roller 55 on the arm 41 rides completely over the protuberant circumferential edge 53 of the cam 50. The rotation of the motor is suspended pending the initiation of the next cycle of operation.

It will now be apparent that the axis of the guide tube 28 in its operative position can always be aligned with the axis of the annularly arranged wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22 regardless of the diameter of the coins to be packaged. Further according to this invention, the axis of the guide tube 28 in its operative position must be alignment with the axis of the stacking cylinder 17 even though its inside diameter is varied to suit various diameters of coins to be handled by the machine. For thus changing the inside diameter of the stacking cylinder 17 with the position of its axis held unchanged, the mechanism illustrated by way of example in FIG. 7 may be employed.

The stacking cylinder 17 of FIG. 7 is composed of a plurality of rectangular plate members arranged substantially into the form of a cylinder in an endlessly overlapping relationship to each other. The upper ends of all of these plate members may be slightly bent outwardly so that the coins delivered through the chute 16, FIGS. 1 and 2, will be received unfailingly in the stacking cylinder 17. A plurality of arms 101 extend outwardly from the respective plate members 100, and the outer ends of these arms 101 are each turnably coupled to an annular frame 102 in which is supported the stacking cylinder 17. A pair of parallel links 103 and 104 each having one end turnably coupled to an adjusting lever 105 at 106 and 107, respectively, are coupled at their respective other ends 108 and 109 to the arms 101 of any two of the plate members 100 in such a manner that these connecting points 106, 107, 108, and 109 will be located at respective corners of a notional parallelogram. The link 104 has an extension 110 supporting one end of a coil spring 111 the other end of which is affixed to the frame 102, so that the plate members 100 are urged by the spring 111 in such a direction as to decrease the inside diameter of the stacking cylinder 17.

A roller 1 12 is mounted on one end of the adjusting lever 105 for contact with the circumference of a cam 113 of polygonal shape which can be fixedly mounted on the shaft 36 shown in FIG. 3. The circumference of this cam 113 is so shaped as to cause the inside diameter of the stacking cylinder 17 to change in accordance with the diameter of coins to be stacked thereby. Thus, by turning the knob 35 of FIG. 3, the inside diameter of the stacking cylinder 17 can be changed with the location of its axis unchanged and thus held in vertical alignment with the axis of the annularly arranged wrapping rolls to 22 and further with the axis of the guide tube 28.

The same objective can likewise be accomplished by the arrangements illustrated schematically in FIGS. 8 and 9. According to the arrangement of FIG. 8, a desired number of stacking cylinders 17a to 17f, each of a fixed inside diameter designed to suit coins of a particular denomination, are securely supported by an annular frame 114 which is to be revolved whenever required to bring any desired one of the stacking cylinders 17a to 17f to a position above the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22, with the axis of the desired stacking cylinder alined with the exact central position between the wrapping rolls.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative arrangement in which the stacking cylinders 17a, 17b, and so on of various inside diameters are supported by a rectangular frame 114a which is movable linearly in both directions to bring any desired one of the stacking cylinders to the position axially alined with the wrapping rolls 20, 21, and 22.

While the invention has been shown and described hereinbefore in very specific aspects thereof, it is to be understood that all matter described herein or shown in the accompanying drawings is by way of example only and is not intended to impose limitations on the invention. For example, the wrapping rolls 20 to 22 can be caused to move only between their most spaced-apart and least spaced-apart positions instead of stopping over at the intermediate positions as in the foregoing disclosure. It will also be apparent that the distances the respective wrapping rolls are caused to move from their most spaced-apart to intermediate or least spaced-ap art positions can be changed, not for each denomination or diameter of coins to be packaged, but for each of several groups of coins of different denominations into which the coins have previously been classified according to their diameters.

Thus, a latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, so that it is appropriate that the invention be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the proper scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin packaging apparatus of the type including a coin stacking means for arranging and stacking each of a predetermined number of coins of the same diameter into a neat stack, a plurality of wrapping rolls disposed below said stacking means and arranged annularly in parallel spaced relationship to each other, a guide means movable in a straight line along a path for guiding a stack of coins from said stacking means to a position between said wrapping rolls, means for imp arting rotation at least to one of said wrapping rolls and hence to a stack of coins held therebetween, and means for supplying a wrapper between the stack of coins and wrapping rolls as the stack of coins rotates with said wrapping rolls; the improvement comprising:

means connected to said stacking means for selectively adjusting the inside diameter of said stacking means to the diameter of the coins to be stacked therein and for maintaining the central axis of said stacking means coincident with said straight line path along which said guide means moves; and means connected to said wrapping rolls for moving,

prior to guidance of the coin stack from said stacking means into the wrapping space between said wrapping rolls by means of said guide means, all of said wrapping rolls to a first position spaced from but closely adjacent to the position to be occupied by the peripheral surface of the coin stack in accordance with the diameter of coins to be packaged, and for then moving, after the coin stack has been guided from said stacking means into said position in said wrapping space, all of said wrapping rolls to a second position contacting said coin stack, while maintaining the central axis of said wrapping space between said wrapping rolls coincident with said central axis of said stacking means and said straight line path of said guide means. 

1. In a coin packaging apparatus of the type including a coin stacking means for arranging and stacking each of a predetermined number of coins of the same diameter into a neat stack, a plurality of wrapping rolls disposed below said stacking means and arranged annularly in parallel spaced relationship to each other, a guide means movable in a straight line along a path for guiding a stack of coins from said stacking means to a position between said wrapping rolls, means for imparting rotation at least to one of said wrapping rolls and hence to a stack of coins held therebetween, and means for supplying a wrapper between the stack of coins and wrapping rolls as the stack of coins rotates with said wrapping rolls; the improvement comprising: means connected to said stacking means for selectively adjusting the inside diameter of said stacking means to the diameter of the coins to be stacked therein and for maintaining the central axis of said stacking means coincident with said straight line path along which said guide means moves; and means connected to said wrapping rolls for moving, prior to guidance of the coin stack from said stacking means into the wrapping space between said wrapping rolls by means of said guide means, all of said wrapping rolls to a first position spaced from but closely adjacent to the position to be occupied by the peripheral surface of the coin stack in accordance with the diameter of coins to be packaged, and for then moving, after the coin stack has been guided from said stacking means into said position in said wrapping space, all of said wrapping rolls to a second position contacting said coin stack, while maintaining the central axis of said wrapping space between said wrapping rolls coincident with said central axis of said stacking means and said straight line path of said guide means. 